Yaya Toure wins CAF African Player of the Year

 ACCRA, Dec. 21 (Xinhua) -- Ivoirian and Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure was crowned the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) Best Player of the Year for the second consecutive¹ time at an Awards Gala held at the Banquet Hall of the State House in Accra on Thursday night.

Toure beat fellow Ivorian Didier Drogba and Cameroun's Alexander Song to win the popular prize to honor African men and women who have excelled and contributed to the development of football in and outside the African continent.

"This night is so special for me," said Toure, after receiving the award. "Thanks to all of you, even my captain is here today. Thanks to everyone and we are happy for this award."

The three players received the Golden, Silver and Bronze trophies² respectively.

The 29-year-old midfielder played an immense part in helping³ Manchester City win their first domestic championship in 44 years.

The CAF award is bestowed⁴ purely⁵ on merit for exemplary contributions toward the development and promotion⁶ of football on and off the pitch.

The annual event also aspires⁷ to encourage and enhance the performances of sportsmen and women to maintain the high standard and quality of football administration and management in Africa.

The vote was determined⁸ by head coaches or technical directors of the National Associations affiliated⁹ to CAF.

Apart from the African Footballer of the Year, there were several other categories for the awards ceremony honoring some legends on the continent.

1 consecutive   

adj.连续的，联贯的，始终一贯的

参考例句：

• It has rained for four consecutive days.已连续下了四天雨。
• The policy of our Party is consecutive.我党的政策始终如一。

2 trophies   

n.（为竞赛获胜者颁发的）奖品( trophy的名词复数 )；奖杯；（尤指狩猎或战争中获得的）纪念品；（用于比赛或赛跑名称）奖

参考例句：

• His football trophies were prominently displayed in the kitchen. 他的足球奖杯陈列在厨房里显眼的位置。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The hunter kept the lion's skin and head as trophies. 这猎人保存狮子的皮和头作为纪念品。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

3 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

4 bestowed   

赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• It was a title bestowed upon him by the king. 那是国王赐给他的头衔。
• He considered himself unworthy of the honour they had bestowed on him. 他认为自己不配得到大家赋予他的荣誉。

5 purely   

adv.纯粹地，完全地

参考例句：

• I helped him purely and simply out of friendship.我帮他纯粹是出于友情。
• This disproves the theory that children are purely imitative.这证明认为儿童只会单纯地模仿的理论是站不住脚的。

6 promotion   

n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传

参考例句：

• The teacher conferred with the principal about Dick's promotion.教师与校长商谈了迪克的升级问题。
• The clerk was given a promotion and an increase in salary.那个职员升了级，加了薪。

7 aspires   

v.渴望，追求( aspire的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The fame to which he aspires was beyond his reach. 他追求的名誉乃是他所不能及的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• An old steed in the stable still aspires to gallop a thousand li. 老骥伏枥，志在千里。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

9 affiliated   

adj. 附属的, 有关连的

参考例句：

• The hospital is affiliated with the local university. 这家医院附属于当地大学。
• All affiliated members can vote. 所有隶属成员都有投票权。